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Two women assaulted during early morning
Suspect poses as policeman as he handcuffs woman, sexually assaults her

by Jessica Lipsky

The Pleasanton Police Department and allied agencies are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the suspects in two sexual assaults that occurred earlier this month. The incidents seem to be unrelated, though both occurred during the wee hours of the morning.

The most recently reported case involved the impersonation of a police officer at around 3 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 5. Police said a woman was driving on Valley Avenue at Bernal Avenue when she heard what sounded like the chirp of a police siren. After seeing a flash of light coming from the vehicle behind her, the driver believed she was being stopped by a law enforcement officer and pulled over to the side of the road in a secluded area.

The male suspect approached the driver's side door and showed the victim a star shaped badge in his hand, then ordered the victim out of her vehicle and handcuffed her, according to police reports. She was then placed in the back seat of the suspect's vehicle and driven to an unknown secluded road where she was sexually assaulted by the suspect in his vehicle. The suspect left the victim at the scene of the crime and drove away.

The victim walked back to her vehicle and drove home, police said. She did not sustain any life threatening injuries and did not report the incident to police until Aug. 28. It is not known why the incident wasn't reported earlier.

"Sexual assault, being a very traumatic experience, victims respond in a variety of ways. There is no standardized way of reporting," said Sgt. Maria Munayer. "I don't want to speculate on why she waited, I'm just glad she came forward."

The suspect is described as a white male in his late 20s or early 30s with dark brown or black hair. He is 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, approximately 185 pounds and of medium or muscular build. The suspect wore a dark colored button-down shirt with no police insignia and a dark, police-style hat with patent leather brim and no police insignia.

The victim described the suspect's vehicle as a dark four-door sedan of unknown make and model.

In a more recent incident, a woman in her 20s was sexually assaulted and robbed Sunday, Aug. 19, while walking home alone from downtown at about 2:30 a.m., according to a news release from the Pleasanton Police Department.

"While walking in the area of First Street and Spring Avenue, she noticed a male adult was following her. When she reached Kottinger Park, the male had closed the distance between them. He made a comment to her that caused her to fear for her safety," the release stated.

The woman ran into Kottinger Park to get away from the suspect; he chased her into the park, then sexually assaulted her and robbed her of an undisclosed amount of cash before running off.

The victim was transported to a local hospital where she was treated and released.

"It's not life threatening, she just received bruises and cuts all over her body," said Munayer, who confirmed that sexual assaults by strangers are a rarity in Pleasanton.

This suspect is described as white or Hispanic with dark, short hair, in his early 20s, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 185 pounds and with a muscular build. He also had distinguishing tattoos, according to the news release: "old English" style writing across his collarbones and one tattoo on each upper arm.

His hat, a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap, was recovered by police.

"Physical evidence recovered has been submitted to the Alameda County Crime Lab for forensic examination," the press release said.

The Police Department has increased patrols, including uniformed bicycle officers, around Kottinger Village Park. Anyone with information about these incidents or the identity of either suspect is urged to contact the Pleasanton Police Department at 931-5100.